HUNTINGTON, Ind. – What was meant to be a celebration turned into a grind for the Huntington University softball team, as the Foresters fell twice to University of Saint Francis, 7-3 and 6-3, in Crossroads League action on Senior Day.
While the final scores didn't reflect the moment, the significance of the day wasn't lost. Huntington's six seniors have been instrumental in the program's sustained success, helping set the standard and leaving behind a foundation that will continue to shape Forester softball.
Game 1 – Saint Francis 7, Huntington 3
The Cougars wasted no time setting the tone, plating two runs in the first and never trailing the rest of the way.
Huntington answered in the home half when Maddie Goheen laced a single to left center to score Jess Duvall, but the Foresters were forced to play catch-up the remainder of the contest.
Saint Francis continued to add to its lead, building a 5-1 advantage before Makinzie Kline drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth to make it 5-2. The Cougars responded again, however, adding two more runs in the fifth to create separation.
HU's final run came in the sixth on a Saint Francis error, but missed opportunities loomed large as the Foresters stranded nine runners on base.
Offensively, Goheen and Carli Tharp each tallied two hits to lead HU's five-hit effort, while Kline drove in two runs. Maddie Duvall also made her presence felt on the bases, swiping two bags as Huntington totaled four stolen bases in the game.
In the circle, Natalie Haselby took the loss after allowing seven runs on nine hits over five innings. Bethany Haselby was a bright spot in relief, tossing two innings of hitless, scoreless softball.
Game 2 – Saint Francis 6, Huntington 3
The nightcap offered more fight early, with the two teams locked in a 3-3 battle through four innings.
Huntington scratched across runs in unconventional ways, capitalizing on a Cougar error in the second before manufacturing two more in the fourth on a fielder's choice by Gaby Hypes and a run-scoring groundout from Tharp.
But Saint Francis delivered the decisive blow in the fifth, stringing together timely hits to plate two runs and take control. They added an insurance run in the seventh to extend the margin.
The Foresters threatened late, loading the bases in the final frame, but Cougar reliever Alexa Huth shut the door to secure the sweep.
Despite being limited to five hits again, Huntington found ways to compete offensively, with Maddie Duvall recording a two-hit effort while Akasha Burton added a hit and scored.
Kinzie Mollenkopf went the distance in the circle, striking out seven over a taxing 151-pitch outing while surrendering 13 hits to suffer the loss.
Up Next
With the losses, Huntington drops to 17-11 overall and 9-7 in Crossroads League play. The Foresters return to action Tuesday at home against IWU with first pitch set for 3:00 p.m.
The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 181 NAIA All-America honors and 631 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. Huntington has a top quartile ranking in the 2026 U.S. News Best Regional Universities Midwest Rankings.
